A cigarette shop in Covington is now closed but the plans for what’s going in its place excited the town a few months ago when The River City News broke the story.
The Smilin’ Smoker is out of business and has paper pasted on its windows indicating such.
So what are the plans?
The Smilin’ Smoker building, which was previously a fast food restaurant, will be razed and in its place will go a new Wendy’s, possibly a new Arby’s, and what excited RCN readers the most, a new Chipotle.
UPDATE: The River City News has learned that Arby’s is no longer part of the plans but that Chipotle and Wendy’s are still on.
Rendering of planned Wendy’s
The closure of the smoke shop falls in line with the developer’s remarks in August when the story broke that construction would begin in the winter with the restuarants possibly opening in the spring.
(SEE PREVIOUSLY:Â New Chipotle, Wendy’s & Arby’s to Open in Covington)
The project is being developed by MB Land Company on property owned by Frisch’s (which operates a location adjacent to the development). MB Land Company is based in Bellevue and has previously worked on the new Kroger in Burlington, Walmart in Dry Ridge, a Home Depot, Kohl’s, and Target in Florence, and other national retailers.
The Chipotle will be a corporate store while the other restaurants will be franchises (though in August the Arby’s was not a done deal).
-Staff report
Photo:Â Smilin’ Smoker in Covington/RCN
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